7 "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)"...
27 "Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him." John 4: 7-8,27-30
These verses frame the amazing story of Jesus meeting with the adulterous Samaritan woman at the well. This woman truly had no business talking with Jesus - a. because she was a Samaritan and He a Jew (Samaritans and Jews wanted nothing to do with one another) b. because she was a woman (during the chauvinistic time of this narrative, a male would have regarded giving instruction to a woman a waste of time) c. She was a sexually promiscuous woman (she had had sinful trysts with 5 men, and was likely even shunned by her own people - why else would one be off in the desert heat of high noon all by themselves in order to fill their water jars, when every other woman did so in the cool of the dawn?).
She had no business talking with Jesus...but Jesus not only shared a cup with her, but He also shared the Good News of His coming with her. Jesus did not see a Samaritan, or a Woman, or a Sinner...Jesus saw one of His children in need of a Saviour.
And His time with her made quite an impact (time with Him always makes an impact), because when the disciples returned, she departed for the town boldly witnessing to all, the Good News of Jesus. And, surprise, surprise - people actually came out of the town to see and be with Jesus.
What I find interesting about this story, is that the disciples (all 12 of them) had just returned from the same town, and they didn't have one person following them out to see and be with Jesus. The disciples had also shared a cup with Jesus, and knew the hope of His glory. They had seen His miracles, and listened to Him teach of His love which led to eternal life. They too, (even more so than the Samaritan woman) had a story to bear witness to - and one would think that they would be eager to do so to any and everyone they came into contact with.
Yet they returned to Jesus without anyone following them, while the Samaritan woman's story brought out many. How is it that these "super spiritual" disciples were out witnessed by the town pariah?
I suppose one could argue that the disciples didn't witness at all, because they didn't think they were supposed to do so with the despised Samaritans. However, I think this is a good story from God to remind us that the testimony of anyone, no matter who they are, or what they have done can be effective for Christ.
Sometimes the best witnessing is not done by Pastors, or Theology Professors who have always lived their lives in obedience to Christ...sometimes the best witnessing is accomplished through the humble stories of broken and hurting people so loved by God.
Your story with God is unique, and it is your own - nobody can deny it or take it from you. You do not need a masters in theology to be a witness for Jesus - all you need to do is tell others your story of meeting Him.
May God, through His Spirit empower everyone of us to share our stories, that He might change lives.
Be God's, Scott
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Absurd
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5: 6-8
Absurd - "inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense"
Sometimes I wonder if we don't take Christ's death and our salvation for granted - as if it was something Jesus had to do, or that we somehow had it coming regardless. As a result, could it be that we minimize the sacrifice offered up on our behalf? Do we truly comprehend the ludicrous nature of the sacrifice of Jesus?
This brief, yet beautiful passage, shakes us out of our entitlement doldrums, and points us towards the passionate love of God for us in Christ Jesus. It does so, by challenging us to walk for a moment in Jesus' sandals. We are confronted with the hypothetical - would you be willing to sacrifice your life in place of someone else, in order that they might live? Would you willingly lay down your life for another?
Paul's thoughts are that some might (but most likely will not) die in place of a good and noble person in order to save their life. My thoughts are that the human "survive at all costs" instinct is so strong, and our fear of death is so great, that even this choice - dying for one we love and respect - is easier said than done. I'd like to think I would, but I am honest enough with myself to recognize that when push came to shove, I might not.
Paul points out pretty accurately though, that he can't think of any person who would willingly sacrifice their life in order to save another who has done them harm, an enemy, one who has shown nothing but animosity towards them. Truly, who would do such a thing? Absurd, right?
Christ did this very absurd thing...Christ died for the ungodly. He who is holy and good and pure, sacrificed His life so that those (like you and me) who have shown Him nothing but sinful animosity, might live. We have done nothing to deserve this sacrifice, but yet He freely made it for us and our salvation.
If we did nothing to deserve this act, why did He do it?
God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
His sacrifice (his life for ours) came as a result of His great love for us. And only one possessed of an incredibly great and absurd love would ever do such a thing.
May you know today the incredible and absurd love that God has for you, and may His sacrifice lead you towards a life of thanksgiving and worship.
Be God's, Scott
Absurd - "inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense"
Sometimes I wonder if we don't take Christ's death and our salvation for granted - as if it was something Jesus had to do, or that we somehow had it coming regardless. As a result, could it be that we minimize the sacrifice offered up on our behalf? Do we truly comprehend the ludicrous nature of the sacrifice of Jesus?
This brief, yet beautiful passage, shakes us out of our entitlement doldrums, and points us towards the passionate love of God for us in Christ Jesus. It does so, by challenging us to walk for a moment in Jesus' sandals. We are confronted with the hypothetical - would you be willing to sacrifice your life in place of someone else, in order that they might live? Would you willingly lay down your life for another?
Paul's thoughts are that some might (but most likely will not) die in place of a good and noble person in order to save their life. My thoughts are that the human "survive at all costs" instinct is so strong, and our fear of death is so great, that even this choice - dying for one we love and respect - is easier said than done. I'd like to think I would, but I am honest enough with myself to recognize that when push came to shove, I might not.
Paul points out pretty accurately though, that he can't think of any person who would willingly sacrifice their life in order to save another who has done them harm, an enemy, one who has shown nothing but animosity towards them. Truly, who would do such a thing? Absurd, right?
Christ did this very absurd thing...Christ died for the ungodly. He who is holy and good and pure, sacrificed His life so that those (like you and me) who have shown Him nothing but sinful animosity, might live. We have done nothing to deserve this sacrifice, but yet He freely made it for us and our salvation.
If we did nothing to deserve this act, why did He do it?
God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
His sacrifice (his life for ours) came as a result of His great love for us. And only one possessed of an incredibly great and absurd love would ever do such a thing.
May you know today the incredible and absurd love that God has for you, and may His sacrifice lead you towards a life of thanksgiving and worship.
Be God's, Scott
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The Broccoli Face
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5: 1-5
There are times when I ask my kids to do something they would rather not do, if they were to have their own choice in the matter. I will ask them to get off of the video games, or eat their vegetables, or read a book, or to go to bed at a set and reasonable time. All of these necessary demands (and others like them) are ones a parent often makes of their kids. And though the child may not want to do them, or see the merit in them - the parents are actually imposing these directions upon them with some foresight.
I ask them to turn off the video games, because I want them to stay active and be healthy. I ask them to eat their vegetables, because they are a necessary fuel for the human body to operate properly, I want them to live for a long time. I ask them to read a book, because reading while young is one of the keys to intelligence and school performance, and excellent school performance will lead them to be able to choose pretty well any vocation they want. I ask them to go to bed at a regular bed time, because sleep is important for a kids physical growth and mental acuity, in order to do their best and be healthy they need their rest.
You see, all of these directions must be endured by our kids. In fact many of them would call these things suffering at the time - at least that is certainly what the face indicates as the broccoli hits the tongue. Yet we put our kids through these "sufferings" because as parents we are not in the short term business of merely pleasing our kids, but in the long term business of preparing our kids for a successful and godly life.
I think this is what Paul was getting at when he bluntly states that "we also glory in our suffering." Whatever our suffering may be called at the time, the last thing we want to do is glory in it. Suffering is not enjoyable or pleasing after all. How could we possibly glory in it?
Well, Paul would encourage us to look at the long term consequences of suffering, rather than whether or not it pleases us in the short term. Since as Christians, we have peace with God and we can safely boast in the hope of future glory - suffering should never be perceived as punishment from God. Looking down the road our suffering produces perseverance - a sticktoitiveness in which the Christian pushes through the suffering, and keeps on going armed with the strength given by Christ. It's a never give up attitude. And when one has this type of godly perseverance, one's character is shaped and established - this means your actions and life are becoming more and more holy, reflective of the character of Christ. An approved character assures one that God is working in their life, shaping them and honing them according to His will. And this character produces hope - hope is the assurance that at the end of it all, everything is going to work out glorious for the believer.
In other words, we are not asked to endure suffering as a form of punishment, we are asked to endure suffering with the hopes of it helping to shape us into righteous children of God.
So, when we are stuck in the midst of a suffering situation, Paul tries to encourage us to look past the immediate discomfort towards the sure hope of our salvation in Christ.
No more need for that "broccoli" face...
Be God's, Scott
There are times when I ask my kids to do something they would rather not do, if they were to have their own choice in the matter. I will ask them to get off of the video games, or eat their vegetables, or read a book, or to go to bed at a set and reasonable time. All of these necessary demands (and others like them) are ones a parent often makes of their kids. And though the child may not want to do them, or see the merit in them - the parents are actually imposing these directions upon them with some foresight.
I ask them to turn off the video games, because I want them to stay active and be healthy. I ask them to eat their vegetables, because they are a necessary fuel for the human body to operate properly, I want them to live for a long time. I ask them to read a book, because reading while young is one of the keys to intelligence and school performance, and excellent school performance will lead them to be able to choose pretty well any vocation they want. I ask them to go to bed at a regular bed time, because sleep is important for a kids physical growth and mental acuity, in order to do their best and be healthy they need their rest.
You see, all of these directions must be endured by our kids. In fact many of them would call these things suffering at the time - at least that is certainly what the face indicates as the broccoli hits the tongue. Yet we put our kids through these "sufferings" because as parents we are not in the short term business of merely pleasing our kids, but in the long term business of preparing our kids for a successful and godly life.
I think this is what Paul was getting at when he bluntly states that "we also glory in our suffering." Whatever our suffering may be called at the time, the last thing we want to do is glory in it. Suffering is not enjoyable or pleasing after all. How could we possibly glory in it?
Well, Paul would encourage us to look at the long term consequences of suffering, rather than whether or not it pleases us in the short term. Since as Christians, we have peace with God and we can safely boast in the hope of future glory - suffering should never be perceived as punishment from God. Looking down the road our suffering produces perseverance - a sticktoitiveness in which the Christian pushes through the suffering, and keeps on going armed with the strength given by Christ. It's a never give up attitude. And when one has this type of godly perseverance, one's character is shaped and established - this means your actions and life are becoming more and more holy, reflective of the character of Christ. An approved character assures one that God is working in their life, shaping them and honing them according to His will. And this character produces hope - hope is the assurance that at the end of it all, everything is going to work out glorious for the believer.
In other words, we are not asked to endure suffering as a form of punishment, we are asked to endure suffering with the hopes of it helping to shape us into righteous children of God.
So, when we are stuck in the midst of a suffering situation, Paul tries to encourage us to look past the immediate discomfort towards the sure hope of our salvation in Christ.
No more need for that "broccoli" face...
Be God's, Scott
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Listen Up
"Today, if only you would hear his voice,
“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,
where your ancestors tested me;
they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
For forty years I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’” Psalm 95: 7-11
My son is studying French right now in school. I always kind of liked French when I was in school, so as I was helping him study his verbs for an upcoming test last night, I was secretly delighting in what little knowledge of the language I have retained. One of the verbs he is learning is the verb "ecouter." This verb gave me pause of thought, because I could not remember if it meant "to listen" or "to hear." The verb "entendre" was the French verb for the other one. Now, you may think to yourself, what's the big deal - "to listen" and "to hear" are essentially the same action...Well, not really (at least in the French language.
I was reminded by my son that ecouter means to listen, and entendre means to hear. To hear (entendre) means to audibly take note of a sound - for an example - I hear thunder of in the distance, or, I hear a baby crying. It is plain and simple, sensing a sound. To listen (ecouter) is a much deeper and more intimate action - it means to not only to hear a sound, but also to engage in communication with the sound. For example - I listened very carefully to the game instructions, or I am listening to the weather forecast. With listening or ecouter, there is a level of interaction with the noise.
Sometimes parents wonder if their kids simply hear their voice (kind of like the brass horn vibrato of the adults in Charlie Brown), but don't really listen to what they have said, when the kids once again disobey. It's one thing to hear a sound, it's another altogether to engage and respond to it.
Are you a listener or a hearer of God? God wants us to listen to Him, and not to simply hear Him.
God says in Psalm 95, "Today, if only you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
God is speaking to us all the time - primarily through His Word, the Bible. Many of us hear the Word of God for our lives - whether in church, through personal reading, or sometimes even songs. We have heard it well enough over the years to recognize it, and to easily identify its content. For many, His voice is a distinct sound - we know what He is calling us to do and to be. The sound of His voice carries with it a call to obedience.
The reality is that until we obey the voice of God and live it out in our life - we will only ever be hearers of God. To listen to God is to obey God - to do that which He asks us to do. We must not harden our hearts - or as I like to put it - tune God out (or relegate His voice to background noise in our life). His voice demands preeminence and our obedient response.
Lord God, teach me how to be a better listener to your voice...
Be God's, Scott
“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,
where your ancestors tested me;
they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
For forty years I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’” Psalm 95: 7-11
My son is studying French right now in school. I always kind of liked French when I was in school, so as I was helping him study his verbs for an upcoming test last night, I was secretly delighting in what little knowledge of the language I have retained. One of the verbs he is learning is the verb "ecouter." This verb gave me pause of thought, because I could not remember if it meant "to listen" or "to hear." The verb "entendre" was the French verb for the other one. Now, you may think to yourself, what's the big deal - "to listen" and "to hear" are essentially the same action...Well, not really (at least in the French language.
I was reminded by my son that ecouter means to listen, and entendre means to hear. To hear (entendre) means to audibly take note of a sound - for an example - I hear thunder of in the distance, or, I hear a baby crying. It is plain and simple, sensing a sound. To listen (ecouter) is a much deeper and more intimate action - it means to not only to hear a sound, but also to engage in communication with the sound. For example - I listened very carefully to the game instructions, or I am listening to the weather forecast. With listening or ecouter, there is a level of interaction with the noise.
Sometimes parents wonder if their kids simply hear their voice (kind of like the brass horn vibrato of the adults in Charlie Brown), but don't really listen to what they have said, when the kids once again disobey. It's one thing to hear a sound, it's another altogether to engage and respond to it.
Are you a listener or a hearer of God? God wants us to listen to Him, and not to simply hear Him.
God says in Psalm 95, "Today, if only you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
God is speaking to us all the time - primarily through His Word, the Bible. Many of us hear the Word of God for our lives - whether in church, through personal reading, or sometimes even songs. We have heard it well enough over the years to recognize it, and to easily identify its content. For many, His voice is a distinct sound - we know what He is calling us to do and to be. The sound of His voice carries with it a call to obedience.
The reality is that until we obey the voice of God and live it out in our life - we will only ever be hearers of God. To listen to God is to obey God - to do that which He asks us to do. We must not harden our hearts - or as I like to put it - tune God out (or relegate His voice to background noise in our life). His voice demands preeminence and our obedient response.
Lord God, teach me how to be a better listener to your voice...
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
What have you done for me lately
1 "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land." Psalm 95: 1-5
One of the terms I often like to use to describe this peculiar society that we live in, is to call it a "what have you done for me lately" culture. What I intend to say with this moniker is that we tend to treat people on the basis of how well (and how recently) have they serviced us. It's really a poke on our individualistic and selfish mindset, that encourages us to see everything and everyone created and ordered for the express purpose of meeting our felt needs.
I mean, marriage relationship of seven years not quite operating with the same romantic passion as that first year? Not loving me with that same initial fervor? Time for this thing to end - what have you done for me lately?
Presidents and Prime Ministers (and every politician in between) are judged by individuals on the basis of how their decisions and policies have affected me, personally (never mind the big picture). The fortunes of politicians rise and fall on the whims of this simple question...what have you done for me lately?
Even movie stars and athletes who were once beloved, sooner or later find themselves on the wrong end of public affection, when they either make a mistake or simply stop giving us what we want...what have you done for me lately?
I wonder if this mindset does not trickle into our relationship with God as well - especially with our praise and worship. Do we tend to praise God only we perceive He is doing something for us? Say for example, when He heals us from an illness, or when He gives us a good crop...But then hold back our praise when we perceive Him to be silent or not serving us - maybe when things aren't going so well? Is our relationship with God (in particular our attitude in offering worship) predicated on what God has done or not done for us? What have you done for me lately, God?
What I like about this Psalm, and it is a good bit of reality for our self-centered existence, is that our Worship of God should not depend on anything God has or has not done (and it certainly has nothing to do with us!).
The reason that we are to praise God continually, sings the Psalmist, is because of who He is. "For He is the Great God - the Great King above all gods." Worship should never revolve around us and our felt needs - worship is always about the very nature and character of our unchanging God. He who holds the universe that He created in the palm of His hand. He who is awesome in power, and unending in love. He who has always existed in beautiful splendor. He is worthy of our praise!
Really, wouldn't our society be a much more pleasing place to live if we became a "what have WE done for HIM lately" kind of culture?
Be God's, Scott
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land." Psalm 95: 1-5
One of the terms I often like to use to describe this peculiar society that we live in, is to call it a "what have you done for me lately" culture. What I intend to say with this moniker is that we tend to treat people on the basis of how well (and how recently) have they serviced us. It's really a poke on our individualistic and selfish mindset, that encourages us to see everything and everyone created and ordered for the express purpose of meeting our felt needs.
I mean, marriage relationship of seven years not quite operating with the same romantic passion as that first year? Not loving me with that same initial fervor? Time for this thing to end - what have you done for me lately?
Presidents and Prime Ministers (and every politician in between) are judged by individuals on the basis of how their decisions and policies have affected me, personally (never mind the big picture). The fortunes of politicians rise and fall on the whims of this simple question...what have you done for me lately?
Even movie stars and athletes who were once beloved, sooner or later find themselves on the wrong end of public affection, when they either make a mistake or simply stop giving us what we want...what have you done for me lately?
I wonder if this mindset does not trickle into our relationship with God as well - especially with our praise and worship. Do we tend to praise God only we perceive He is doing something for us? Say for example, when He heals us from an illness, or when He gives us a good crop...But then hold back our praise when we perceive Him to be silent or not serving us - maybe when things aren't going so well? Is our relationship with God (in particular our attitude in offering worship) predicated on what God has done or not done for us? What have you done for me lately, God?
What I like about this Psalm, and it is a good bit of reality for our self-centered existence, is that our Worship of God should not depend on anything God has or has not done (and it certainly has nothing to do with us!).
The reason that we are to praise God continually, sings the Psalmist, is because of who He is. "For He is the Great God - the Great King above all gods." Worship should never revolve around us and our felt needs - worship is always about the very nature and character of our unchanging God. He who holds the universe that He created in the palm of His hand. He who is awesome in power, and unending in love. He who has always existed in beautiful splendor. He is worthy of our praise!
Really, wouldn't our society be a much more pleasing place to live if we became a "what have WE done for HIM lately" kind of culture?
Be God's, Scott
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tough Times
"The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?” But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”" Exodus 17: 1-4
So there was the entire nation of Israel, in the middle of a desert wilderness. They had only recently departed a life of slavery and captivity in Egypt, from which God had miraculously delivered them, only to set them on the way to the promised land of Canaan. This journey was to take 40 years, though at the time of this story they did not know it - in fact, they had only really just begun their journey. Not entirely unexpectedly, the people of Israel found themselves to be thirsty, with a source of water to quench that thirst sorely lacking in the middle of the desert...so they let their leader have it.
"Give us water to drink!" "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt only to let us, our kids and our livestock die of thirst!"
Things became difficult, and their faith unraveled. In fact, it immediately turned into complaint, and uncalled for accusation. They did more than just whine about the difficulty of their present situation, they accused Moses of rescuing them only to kill them all in the desert - either as some nefarious evil genius, or an absolutely incompetent leader. Moses realized the truth of their complaint and accusation though...it was not really against him, it was against God himself. God, after all, was the one who delivered them from Egypt and gave them the future promise of entering the promised land. In fact God had already miraculously provided for them on their journey! He turned the Red Sea into dry land to ease their escape, He directed their journey himself with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, and He even already provided food for them to survive with Manna and Quail...yet, they complained and accused.
How easily the Israelites lost their faith in God's providence, when a little bump entered into their journey. How soon they forgot the loving care that their LORD had already provided.
But, thankfully we are nothing like the Israelites...right? I mean, we never lose our faith in God's providence when a little bump upsets our reality. We never forget the many times that God lovingly cared for us in the past without fail.
OK, so maybe we are all a little bit like the Israelites at times - when the going gets tough, the tough start complaining.
Maybe you are in a desert place right now, thirsting out of necessity and not knowing where or when your thirst will be quenched. Whatever your difficulty, know this for certain - the LORD your God is with you. He has provided you with everything you've ever needed, exactly when you needed it in the past, and He will continue to do so in the future.
Tough times never last, because God is everlasting...
Be God's, Scott
So there was the entire nation of Israel, in the middle of a desert wilderness. They had only recently departed a life of slavery and captivity in Egypt, from which God had miraculously delivered them, only to set them on the way to the promised land of Canaan. This journey was to take 40 years, though at the time of this story they did not know it - in fact, they had only really just begun their journey. Not entirely unexpectedly, the people of Israel found themselves to be thirsty, with a source of water to quench that thirst sorely lacking in the middle of the desert...so they let their leader have it.
"Give us water to drink!" "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt only to let us, our kids and our livestock die of thirst!"
Things became difficult, and their faith unraveled. In fact, it immediately turned into complaint, and uncalled for accusation. They did more than just whine about the difficulty of their present situation, they accused Moses of rescuing them only to kill them all in the desert - either as some nefarious evil genius, or an absolutely incompetent leader. Moses realized the truth of their complaint and accusation though...it was not really against him, it was against God himself. God, after all, was the one who delivered them from Egypt and gave them the future promise of entering the promised land. In fact God had already miraculously provided for them on their journey! He turned the Red Sea into dry land to ease their escape, He directed their journey himself with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, and He even already provided food for them to survive with Manna and Quail...yet, they complained and accused.
How easily the Israelites lost their faith in God's providence, when a little bump entered into their journey. How soon they forgot the loving care that their LORD had already provided.
But, thankfully we are nothing like the Israelites...right? I mean, we never lose our faith in God's providence when a little bump upsets our reality. We never forget the many times that God lovingly cared for us in the past without fail.
OK, so maybe we are all a little bit like the Israelites at times - when the going gets tough, the tough start complaining.
Maybe you are in a desert place right now, thirsting out of necessity and not knowing where or when your thirst will be quenched. Whatever your difficulty, know this for certain - the LORD your God is with you. He has provided you with everything you've ever needed, exactly when you needed it in the past, and He will continue to do so in the future.
Tough times never last, because God is everlasting...
Be God's, Scott
Friday, March 25, 2011
Born Again
"Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3: 3-5
"Born again" has somehow become more than it is. It has in some regards become a branded noun of the fundamentalist used as a dividing rod in our culture. In fact, the title "born again christian" is about as redundant as you can get. I'm not sure Jesus ever intended it to be a noun. I see it is a verb - An action required of us and done by the Spirit through the work of Jesus.
The Kingdom of God is the place where God dwells and reigns with his beautiful love and justice. It is the place where salvation is found and lived out in community right now, and it is the place of eternal bliss yet to come. Jesus' simple gospel call from the beginning was "repent, for the Kingdom of God has come near." To be sure, the Kingdom of God is the place that God created and designed us to live and move and have our being - all in and under the Lordship of Jesus. Our functional purpose as created humans is to live in the Kingdom of God - to glorify and enjoy Him forever. We will never truly be joyful or at peace until we enter into this Kingdom.
Unfortunately, our sin has barred us from entering into this perfect delight that was prepared for us - for what can sin have to do with God's holiness. The Kingdom of God remains elusive to any still enslaved to their sins. In fact Jesus says not only can one not enter it, but one cannot even see it.
There is only one way to see and enter into our home with Christ...Jesus says we must be born again. Not a physical re-birth, as Nicodemus wrongly assumes, but a Spiritual re-birth -one in which the sinful nature that we were originally born with dies, only to be regenerated unto new life, righteous and perfect. This type of re-birth happens on the inside, and cannot be seen or detected by even the finest physicians, but does eventually manifest itself in holy actions. It is the Spiritual re-birth (or regeneration) that is necessary for any of us to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Thankfully, the very one who spoke these words, laid down His life on the cross, and in so doing crucified our sinful natures with Him. His resurrection three days later enables us through faith, to be similarly raised from spiritual death.
The work of Jesus allows us to rightly be born again. The work of Jesus allows us not only to see the Kingdom of God, but to enter into the rest of His presence as well.
Thanks be to God, that He did not leave us to die in our sins, but that, out of His great love for us, gave us the means to be born again!
Be God's, Scott
"Born again" has somehow become more than it is. It has in some regards become a branded noun of the fundamentalist used as a dividing rod in our culture. In fact, the title "born again christian" is about as redundant as you can get. I'm not sure Jesus ever intended it to be a noun. I see it is a verb - An action required of us and done by the Spirit through the work of Jesus.
The Kingdom of God is the place where God dwells and reigns with his beautiful love and justice. It is the place where salvation is found and lived out in community right now, and it is the place of eternal bliss yet to come. Jesus' simple gospel call from the beginning was "repent, for the Kingdom of God has come near." To be sure, the Kingdom of God is the place that God created and designed us to live and move and have our being - all in and under the Lordship of Jesus. Our functional purpose as created humans is to live in the Kingdom of God - to glorify and enjoy Him forever. We will never truly be joyful or at peace until we enter into this Kingdom.
Unfortunately, our sin has barred us from entering into this perfect delight that was prepared for us - for what can sin have to do with God's holiness. The Kingdom of God remains elusive to any still enslaved to their sins. In fact Jesus says not only can one not enter it, but one cannot even see it.
There is only one way to see and enter into our home with Christ...Jesus says we must be born again. Not a physical re-birth, as Nicodemus wrongly assumes, but a Spiritual re-birth -one in which the sinful nature that we were originally born with dies, only to be regenerated unto new life, righteous and perfect. This type of re-birth happens on the inside, and cannot be seen or detected by even the finest physicians, but does eventually manifest itself in holy actions. It is the Spiritual re-birth (or regeneration) that is necessary for any of us to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Thankfully, the very one who spoke these words, laid down His life on the cross, and in so doing crucified our sinful natures with Him. His resurrection three days later enables us through faith, to be similarly raised from spiritual death.
The work of Jesus allows us to rightly be born again. The work of Jesus allows us not only to see the Kingdom of God, but to enter into the rest of His presence as well.
Thanks be to God, that He did not leave us to die in our sins, but that, out of His great love for us, gave us the means to be born again!
Be God's, Scott
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
